“Jack and I are on completely different sides of the aisle on Brexit, that much is clear, but I would hope we can meet in the middle on the fact that this deal represents the worst of both worlds. Brexiteers like Jack did not want to see this deal that keeps us tied to EU regulations perhaps indefinitely. Remainers like myself did not want to see this deal which will damage our economy.

“The risks for our area of this deal going through are extreme. Large employers like Airbus and Rolls Royce will not tolerate the uncertainty it represents.”

Louise goes on to call for Jack Lopresti to stand up to the Government:

“I will never agree with Jack that Brexit will be beneficial to our country, but I am calling for him to take a principled stand from his own position. The Government is driving our country off a cliff here. He cannot stand by and let it happen like this.

“I want Jack to join me in calling for a People’s Vote now that we have seen this deal. This deal represents the worst of both worlds, and we cannot let it be stitched up in Parliament by party whips. Brexiteers like Jack have been calling for the will of the people to be respected, they must now accept that that means asking them what they think of this catastrophic situation we find ourselves in.”

A prominent Liberal Democrat has spoken about her dismay over MP Luke Hall’s decision to support Theresa May’s Brexit deal in a strongly-worded statement.

“Once again, Luke Hall has put career before country and his constituents,” said Claire Young, leader of the Liberal Democrats on South Gloucestershire Council.

“Even the Brexit Secretary, supposedly in charge of brokering this agreement, has walked away saying he cannot back it. Nobody, whether they voted Leave or Remain, voted for this travesty. It will cost us almost £40 billion in divorce fees, it keeps us aligned with EU rules we will no longer have any say in, and it will make us a poorer country.

“Luke Hall’s toadying up to the Prime Minister in hopes of landing a ministerial job is an embarrassment. The people of Thornbury and Yate will rightly be disgusted with him.

“The Liberal Democrats are calling for everyone to have a vote now we’ve seen the deal. However you voted in 2016, it is right that you have the chance to tell the Government to abandon this pathetic excuse for a deal.”

South Gloucestershire Lib Dems have expressed their support for the 58 local head teachers who have come forward to warn of a financial “cliff edge” that will leave most South Gloucestershire primary schools in the red and unable to cope within the next three years.

South Glos Lib Dem Council Group Leader, Claire Young, said:

“South Gloucestershire has become a national symbol of schools in financial crisis as a result of the BBC’s School documentary series. Now the whole country knows what opposition councillors in South Gloucestershire have been warning about for years: that our schools have been chronically underfunded and that this is affecting our children’s education and life chances.

“I welcome the 58 head teachers’ bravery in coming forward to make their concerns public. It is an unusual step for teachers to speak out so publically. The fact that they have felt forced to do so now just goes to show how desperate the crisis in local schools has become. The Conservatives need to heed these warnings before it is too late.”

South Glos Lib Dem Education spokesperson, Cllr Ian Blair, said:

“South Gloucestershire’s Conservative Leader Toby Savage painted a rosy picture of the Chancellor’s recent Budget, claiming it was “positive” for schools. But many local teachers will have been insulted by the Chancellor’s so-called “little extras” for schools, which will amount to just a few thousand pounds per school at a time when schools are being forced to cut teaching assistants and other basic essentials.

“Cllr Savage pledged that improving local education was one of his highest priorities when he became Council Leader. If he really means that, he should back local head teachers and demand a better deal from Government, not just toe the Conservative party-line that there is no crisis.”

Liberal Democrat Focus Team councillors are pushing First Bus for a "three stop hop" ticket for the Yate area. At a meeting with a First Bus representative earlier this week, they argued that more people would use the bus to get about in the town if they could buy a low cost ticket to travel up to 3 stops, as you can in Bristol or Bath.

Newly elected Dodington Councillor Louise Harris said:

"If we want to cut congestion in Yate, we need to give people a real alternative to using the car for local journeys. When the fares go up this month it will cost a fiver for someone living in the town to get to the shopping centre and back. In Bristol or Bath just £1.20 will get you a three stop hop ticket. At that price people don't think twice about jumping on a bus and saving themselves the hassle of finding a parking space at the other end."

"Anyone who has tried to park in Yate at busy times will know how important it is to get more people using the buses. We desperately need to cut congestion and air pollution but the latest fare rises risk putting people off using public transport. Local bus users are being hit particularly hard in the pocket when it comes to short journeys. A three stop hop ticket would help fix that.

"In the longer term, we would like to see Yate have its own travel zone, like Bristol, Bath and Weston-Super-Mare. We demand better services and fair fares for our area."

South Gloucestershire Liberal Democrats were celebrating last night as Louise Harris became the newest member of South Gloucestershire Council after victory in the Dodington by-election, which was called after the sad death of Lib Dem councillor Gloria Stephen. The Lib Dems increased their share of the vote from 41% to 49% with the Conservatives trailing in second place on 39%.

Commenting after her win, Louise Harris, said:

“I am delighted to have been elected to serve the people of Dodington alongside my fellow Lib Dem councillor Tony Davis. I’d like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to my predecessor Gloria Stephen, who was a dedicated local councillor and community champion for Dodington. I hope to follow in her footsteps in standing up for local residents and the issues that really matter to them. I would also like to thank everyone in Dodington who came out to vote in this election. Whether you voted for me or not, I will do my utmost to stand up for you and fight your corner on the Council.

“I will now be getting straight down to work, sorting out the various issues that residents have raised with me over the course of the election and keeping my election pledges to fight for more funding for Abbotswood, and get the Tory-run Council to sort out the terrible state of our roads.”

Lib Dem Group Leader, Claire Young, said:

“I’m very pleased to welcome Louise as the latest member of the Lib Dem Group on the Council. She has the energy and determination to make a real difference on the Council. Despite throwing the kitchen sink at this campaign, and using all sorts of desperate and underhand tactics, the Conservatives got nowhere. Clearly the people of Dodington have chosen to reward Louise’s positive campaign rather than the Tories dirty tricks. This victory clearly bodes well for the Lib Dems in May’s local elections, where we will be looking to take back control of South Gloucestershire Council after years of Conservative mismanagement.”

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